Strive to Thrive is a statewide program for youth ages 12+ where they can discover, connect, and learn ways to flourish in their everyday lives.

Each session is independent of the other, so sign up for one or all of them. Each session will be led by a 4-H youth educator and held online via Zoom from 4:30-5:00 p.m. CST.

April 18, 2022 - Just Breathe

“Just breathe!” is advice we may have heard as we prepared for exams and other significant events. It’s good advice because deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. However, many youths do not have the skills to recognize their own stress or anxiety. Thus, identifying and managing stress is an important life skill. Youth can learn deep breathing techniques to calm themselves when they feel stressed. Register by April 17.

April 25, 2022 - Exploring Resilience

Have you ever wondered why some situations affect you differently than they affect others? Why do things seem like “no big deal” to some while life-altering for others? This difference has to do with resilience, and resilience is the ability to “bounce back” or recover from difficulties. Register by April 22.

May 2, 2022 - Dealing with Disappointment

Disappointments come in all shapes and sizes throughout our life.  Coping skills are a life skill youth need to deal with disappointments.  One critical piece to learning to deal with disappointment is talking about feelings. Register by April 29.

May 9, 2022 - Coping with Loss

Practicing gratitude can increase positive emotions, sleep quality, and overall well-being. At the very least, naming a positive thing about our day can help soften some of the blow from a loss. There’s no need to cancel out all the sadness by manufacturing gratitude, but it’s essential to find something going right in our lives when all feels wrong. Register by May 6.

University of Illinois, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Local Extension Councils Cooperating. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate, email Susan Sloop.